3 indicted in drug ring

Three people were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that brought heroin into the Hazleton area.

According to U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith, the grand jury alleges that Eudy Gonzalez, 24, an inmate at State Correctional Institution Waymart, and Philadelphia residents Linda Reyes, 23, and Luis Morales, 31, conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin from November 2013 to the present.

The indictment alleges that the defendants arranged to obtain heroin in Philadelphia and had it transported to the Allentown area for further distribution into the Hazleton area, a press release from Smith's office states. The suspects allegedly communicated with each other and drug customers by phone and text messages, the indictment states.

The charges stem from an investigation by special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Scranton police.

If convicted, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

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